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(No Model.) I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. W. STEELE.

RAILWAY SEMAPHORE.

No. 430,. Patented June 24, 1890.

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J. W. STEELE.

RAILWAY SBMAPHORE.

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UNITED STATES I PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES lV. STEELE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIYGNOR OF ONE-HALF T O VILLIAM F. WHITE, OF SAME PLACE. Y

RAILWAY-SEMAPHOVRE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of LettersPartent No. 430,705, dated June 24, 1890. Application tiled November 22, 1889. Serial No. 331,208. (No model.)

reference being had to the Iaccompanying drawings, forming parts of this specification, in which like lett-ers of reference in the different figures designate corresponding parts.

The object of my invention is to provide a semaphore which may be so constructed and employed as to serve as a danger-signal for Y railway-trains or as a gate or barrier at railway-crossings, the same to be actuated either by the moving orl carrying away of bridges, culverts, or portions of the railway-track by land-slides or washouts, or, if employed as a crossing-gate, by a tripper located upon the railway-track and moved by the wheels of a passing train, a single impulse, either by said tripper or otherwise, being 'requisite to actuate said semaphore, and that at the expenditure of but nominal force.

To these ends my invention consists in the combination of elements hereinafter more particularly described and claimed.

Figure l in the drawings represents a side elevation of an ordinary railway-culvert, showing my improved semaphore connected therewith and in its normal position. Fig. 2 is an enlarged front view, in detail, of said semaphore, the arm being broken ott and a portion of the railway-track.- Fig. 3 is a like View showing the semaphore-arm extended across the track and the working parts in abnormal positions. Fig. 4: is a plan View of said semaphore in au abnormal position. Fig. 5 is a rear end view ofthe same. Fig. 6 is a plan view in detail taken upon the line a: Fig. 3. Fig. 7 is a plan view similar toV that shown in Fig. 4 and embodying a modi- Iication of said invention. Fig. 8 is a plan view of a portion of a railway-track, showing a modification ot' my invention applied thereto and adapted to be used as a gate in connection with a tripper. Fig. 9 is a side view in detail of a portion of the railway-track, showing a tripper attached thereto; and Fig. 10 is a detail view showing a modification of said invention.

said `figure.

Referring to said drawings, a represents a railway-track, beside which is placed a rigid post b, to which is pivoted, by means of a shaft or trunnion b', secured in a suitable bearing, a semaphore-arm c. Rigidly attached to said trunnion, and extending in au opposite direction from that ot the semaphore-arm, is a short arm d, to which is by preference adjustably secured a counterpoise-weight d. The main portion ot' the semaphore-arm is preferably made of a thin bar of metal, as shown at c', so as to render it flexible, to which I prefer to attach a secondary bar c2, (bet-ter shown in Figs. 3 and 4,) which is parallel with the part c and somewhat separated therefrom. Thc semaphorearm is sufiiciently long and so placed with relation to the track that when lowered, asin Fig. 3, a passing train is brought into contact with it, which causes it to bend, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 4, and to strike against the projecting parts of the locomotive and cars, and thus by its unusual noise give warning of danger. The post c2, when employed, adds to the noise produced.

The base of the arm c is made to abut slightly in an opposite direction from that in.

Vare formed in cross-section, as shown in Fig.

6, where they are connected with the lever f, so as to form a sheath for said lever and receive the same in the manner indicated in The short arm of said lever passes into the space formed between the parallel portions of the linke, while the long arm is sheathed in like manner in the link g, the bend or back of said links forming a stop to limit the backward movement of said parts after the joints e2 g have passed the dead-center, as shown in Fig. 2, in which position they are normally held by means of a spring h, attached to lugs h h2, respectively, upon Said links.

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The links e g, with their joint-connection to the lever f, form a knee-joint which the spring h serves to holdin the position shown in Fig. l when the joints have passed the dead-center in moving back, while it tends to bend and throw them in an opposite direction, as

shown in Fig. 3, as soon as they have passed said center in an opposite direction, and Iinally eases the fall of said semaphore. Thus the same spring serves to lock and unlock said joint, and in the act of unlocking to draw down the semaphore from a vertical to a horizontal position, while the resistance of the spring cushions its fall. To the lower end of the arm f is attached a wire j, Which, after passing around a pulley j,.may be attached to a bridge 7c, as shown in Fig. l, or to the track itself if it is in a dangerous position subject to land-slides or washouts.

It will be observed that but a single impulse is necessary to actuate the lever f so as to unlock it from the position shown in Fig. l, when the semaphore is drawndown, as shown in Fig.' 3. As this impulse requires but anominal force, it is obvio-us that said arm maybe attached to a tripper located upon the track.

In Figs. 8 and 9 I have shown a tripper in the form of a bell-crank lever pivoted at 7o to the rail, onearm 7a2 being held normally above the level of the rail by means of a spring 7c3, Fig. 9, while the other 7a4 is attached to the wire j. By making the arm c longer and placingit parallel with and at the side of the track, as shown in Fig. 8, it may serve as a gate for a railway-crossing, the foremost wheel of the passing train serving to actuate it. In lieu of making the arln c flexible, as shown in Fig. 4, it may be jointed, as shown at c3, Fig. 7, a spring c4 being employed to keep it normally straight, but permitting it to yield upon contact with a passing' train.

Among the advantages possessed by my improved device are, iirst, that the arrangement of the trigger-joint serves to give rigidity and strength to the semaphore and to retain it in a normal position, While a single and very slight impulse applied to the lever f serves to actuate it; second, being thrown across the track, and therefore brought into direct contact with the moving train, insures the attention of the engineer, who might fail to notice a signal-light; third, the arrangement of the knee-joint permits the impulse to be sudden and positive without danger of breaking any of ,the parts; fourth, being thrown across the track in the manner described, it may be seen, as well as heard, by the engineer, and it is immaterial in many cases whether it be broken or not so long as it serves to give the required warning, and, moreover, it is applicable to isolated and lonely places, where there is danger of washouts or land-slides and it is impracticable to secure the constant presence of an attendant. Vhen employed as a gate, it may be adjusted to a normal position by means of a handle d2 upon the arm d, as shown in Fig. 8.

While I prefer to employ the lever f in connection with they toggle-joint, it is obvious that it may be dispensed with and the wire 7' attached directly to the joint, as clearly shown in Fig. l0, in which the spring is also differently adjusted.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- I l. In a railway semaphore or gate, the cornbination of an arm pivoted to a stationary support, a knee-joint mechanism, the members of which are connected one to said arm and one-to said support, a spring connecting said members, whereby the joint may be operated when thrown out of -the dead-center, a lever-connection, to which said members are pivotally attached, and means, as a Wire or cable, for connecting said lever with a railway bridge or track, whereby the movement of either may actuate said semaphore, substantially as shown and described.'

2. The combination, with a railway, railway-bridge, or other structure to be guarded, of a semaphore held in its normal position by means of a toggle-joint, and means-such as a wire or cable-for connecting said toggle joint With said guarded structure, substantially as shown and described.

3. The combination, with a railway, railv way-bridge, or other structure to be guarded, of a semaphore, a toggle-joint consisting of the members c, g, and f, spring h, and a rod or cable for connecting said part f with the structure to be guarded, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I` have signed this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 19th day of October, 1889.

JAMES W. STEELE. Witnesses:

D. H. FLETCHER, .1, J. HALPENNY.

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